Glowing artificial nail

ABSTRACT

The currently available artificial nails swell as a whole and undergo deformation, which damages the commercial value thereof. Moreover, they suffer from another problem of not evenly glowing as a whole due to the occurrence of some non-glowing spaces. In an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section and having light-permeability and flexibility, therefore, a space free from capillary action is ensured at the inside of an area joining the lower wall and the upper wall. Then, one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a glowing artificial nail which has pressure resistance and which can be mass-produced.

BACKGROUND ART

Cosmetic artificial nails using chemical luminescence are already publicly known. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-266815 describes a cosmetic artificial nail including a lower member composed of a flexible resin material sheet; an upper member composed of a flexible, transparent or semitransparent resin material sheet, the periphery of the upper member overlying and being joined to the periphery of the lower member, thus forming an internal space between the upper member and the lower member; and a breakable hollow capsule placed in the internal space, in which one of two kinds of liquid substances which exhibit a chemiluminescent phenomenon when mixed together is packed in the breakable hollow capsule while the other liquid substance is packed outside the hollow capsule in the internal space.

However, the cosmetic artificial nail according to the invention described above is in the form of a flat container as shown in FIG. 6A. When luminescence takes place, carbonic acid gas is generated by chemical reaction, and the container swells due to the pressure of the gas (the walls are pushed outward), which is disadvantageous (FIG. 6B). When the container swells, as shown in FIG. 6C (state in which the container is placed upright), a non-glowing space X arises.

Reaction of 1 mol of an oxalate ester with hydrogen peroxide generates 2 mol of carbonic acid gas. For example, in the case of 0.1 mol of an oxalate ester, about 4 liters of carbonic acid gas is generated. The reaction formula of chemical luminescence is shown below.

Furthermore, the lower member and the upper member composed of resin material sheets are bonded together, at the peripheries thereof, by ultrasonic welding or the like, and the bonding causes a problem of separating the joint due to expansion caused by internal pressure.

As described above, the currently available artificial nails swell as a whole and undergo deformation, which damages the commercial value thereof. Moreover, they suffer from another problem of not evenly emitting light as a whole due to the occurrence of some non-glowing spaces.

Moreover, in the case where a hollow container is formed simply by bonding together the peripheries of an upper sheet and a lower sheet, a problem arises in which, as shown in FIG. 12, a chemiluminescent composition (solution) rises at both sides due to capillary action, thus making it difficult to perform a heat-sealing operation of an opening 4.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the opening 4 of the container, in which spaces at the joint between the upper and lower sheets are designated by reference symbol G. FIG. 12 shows the state in which a hollow container 5 is filled with a chemiluminescent solution Y (fluorescent material, oxalate ester, and dibutyl phthalate). FIG. 12 shows a phenomenon in which the chemiluminescent solution Y rises at the joints G on both sides such that the liquid forms a U shape. The difference between the highest point and the lowest point is about 10 mm. Furthermore, the material for the container is polypropylene, and the temperature during measurement is 23° C. In the capillary action, the height of the rise in the liquid depends on the surface tension of the chemiluminescent solution, wettability of the wall surface, and density of the liquid. Consequently, in this state, it is difficult to seal the opening.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-266815

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The problems to be solved include the problem in that it is not possible to prevent the deformation (swelling) of the container due to the pressure of internally generated gas. The occurrence of capillary action is another problem.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present invention is most importantly characterized in that, in an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section and having light-permeability and flexibility, a space free from capillary action is ensured at the inside of an area joining a lower wall and an upper wall, and one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.

Advantages

In a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention, since the shape of the artificial nail itself can be retained, it is possible to apply unprecedented luminous artwork to the nail as part of the diversification of nail art, which is advantageous.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail below on the basis of the examples.

EXAMPLE 1

Studies on chemical luminescence were conducted more than 20 years ago and are disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 46-7566 and Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 49-40073. Since the subject of the present invention is to ensure luminescence over the entire surface of the nail while maintaining the shape of the nail, descriptions on the principle of luminescence, luminescent compositions, etc. are omitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E according to the present invention, in which a circle A having a small diameter and a circle C having a large diameter partially overlap each other, and the logical NOT Z corresponds to a cross-sectional view of the present invention, which is generally referred to as a crescent shape. In view of the thickness of an upper wall 1 and a lower wall 2, an inner hollow portion 3 corresponds to the logical NOT of a circle D and a circle B. The diameter of A is 11.2 mm, the diameter of B is 10.0 mm, the diameter of C is 16.2 mm, and the diameter of D is 15.0 mm. Therefore, the wall thickness is 0.6 mm.

The thickness of the thickest portion of the container is 2.8 mm. The largest space in the internal center has a thickness of 1.6 mm, and two glass ampules 11 with a diameter of 1.4 mm are inserted therein (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3).

As an example of a space that does not cause capillary action at the inside of an area joining the lower wall and the upper wall in the hollow container 5, as shown in FIG. 3, semicircular spaces 6 with a radius of 0.4 mm are secured. Furthermore, the hollow container has a width of 10 mm and an overall length of 25 mm.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the gas pressure during luminescence is applied to the entire surface of a curved surface C (16.2 mm in diameter) and the entire surface of a curved surface B (10.0 mm in diameter). A description will be made in detail. As shown in FIG. 4K, force (internal pressure) P1 is applied to the curved surface C toward the center of φ16.2 mm, and since the force P1 can be split into P2 and P3, the force in the swelling direction corresponds to P3. In the case of a flat container, as shown in FIG. 4L, the force is not dispersed and P1 is applied. Therefore, swelling occurs easily. Similarly, force P1 is applied to the curved surface B outward from the center of φ10 mm as shown in FIG. 5M, and the force in the swelling direction corresponds to P4, which is smaller than P1. Therefore, deformation does not easily occur. As the material for the hollow container 5, polypropylene or polyethylene is used. Since deformation does not easily occur as described above, the entire surface of the space portion can be allowed to shine evenly. The walls to which pressure is applied are integrally formed by injection molding to achieve joining, and the cross section is formed into a roughly crescent shape. Thereby, a structure which can withstand internal gas pressure is obtained.

In the manufacturing process, many hollow containers 5 (injection-molded pieces) having open upper ends are arrayed with openings 4 being directed upward. One of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is filled from each opening 4 into the corresponding hollow container, two glass ampules 11 with a diameter of 1.4 mm and an overall length of 22 mm in which the other composition is packed are inserted in the largest space in the center of the opening 4, and then each of the openings is sealed by heat melting. The largest space in the center is used for accommodating ampules with the largest possible diameter, and the ampules are restricted to movement within the container. Therefore, when the ampules are broken by bending the container, luminescence can be performed reliably, without fail, which is also advantageous.

EXAMPLE 2

When the hollow container 5 is formed using a soft material, such as soft polyethylene, there is a possibility that deformation may occur. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, a joining portion or portions 7 are provided so as to partially join the lower wall and the upper wall in the longitudinal direction in the center of the space in the hollow container 5. In FIG. 7, one joining portion 7 is provided. A case in which a plurality of joining portions are provided in parallel also belongs to the present invention. In FIG. 9, three columnar joining portions 7 are provided. In these structures, by joining the upper and lower wall, pressure resistance is improved.

EXAMPLE 3

As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of separate empty chambers 8 are formed by joining a lower wall and an upper wall in an airtight hollow container, and the individual chambers are designed to have different luminescent colors. Thereby, a structure with improved decorative effect is obtained.

Furthermore, each of the glowing artificial nails in Examples 1 to 3 described above is attached to a human nail or a doll's nail with a double-sided tape or an adhesive.

EXAMPLE 4

FIGS. 14 and 15 show examples in which a finger-insertion portion 12 which is ring-shaped 9 or roughly horseshoe-shaped 10 is provided continuously on the lower wall. The nails having such a structure do not require a double-sided tape or an adhesive.

When a fluorescent material having a different wavelength from that of the luminescent color of a luminescent solution in the airtight hollow container 5 is incorporated into the wall of the airtight hollow container 5, even after completion of light emission, the artificial nail can be used as a colored artificial nail. Furthermore, the same applies to a glowing artificial nail in which the surface of the upper wall is decorated by printing or attaching a sticker thereto (FIG. 13). In addition to improvement in cosmetic properties, such an artificial nail can be used as a medium of advertisement or promotion using characters etc., or as concert goods for encouragement and support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 1).

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 1 (Example 1).

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 1).

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 1).

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 1).

FIG. 6 includes schematic diagrams showing a conventional glowing artificial nail.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 2).

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F-F of FIG. 7 (Example 2).

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 2).

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 3).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a problem in the conventional case.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a problem in the conventional case.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention, the surface of the glowing artificial nail having a pattern.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 4).

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a glowing artificial nail according to the present invention (Example 4).

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 upper wall

2 lower wall

3 internal space

4 opening

5 hollow container

6 space

7 joining portion

8 separate empty chamber

9 ring-shaped

10 roughly horseshoe-shaped

11 glass ampule

12 finger-insertion portion

X non-glowing space

Y chemiluminescent solution 

1. A glowing artificial nail characterized in that, in an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section and having light-permeability and flexibility, one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.
 2. A glowing artificial nail characterized in that, in an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section surrounded by a lower wall and an upper wall and having light-permeability and flexibility, a ring-shaped or roughly horseshoe-shaped member is disposed continuously on the lower wall to form a detachable finger-insertion portion, and one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.
 3. A glowing artificial nail characterized in that, in an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section and having light-permeability and flexibility, a space free from capillary action is ensured at the inside of an area joining a lower wall and an upper wall, and one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.
 4. A glowing artificial nail characterized in that, in an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section and having light-permeability and flexibility, a space free from capillary action is ensured at the inside of an area joining a lower wall and an upper wall, a ring-shaped or roughly horseshoe-shaped member is disposed continuously on the lower wall to form a detachable finger-insertion portion, and one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.
 5. A glowing artificial nail characterized in that, in an airtight hollow container having a roughly crescent-shaped cross section and having light-permeability and flexibility, a space free from capillary action is ensured at the inside of an area joining a lower wall and an upper wall, and one of two kinds of compositions, which show chemical luminescence when mixed together, is packed in a breakable glass ampule placed in the largest space in the center in the airtight hollow container while the other composition is packed outside the glass ampule in the airtight hollow container.
 6. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein the roughly crescent-shaped cross section of the airtight hollow container corresponds to a logical NOT when a diameter of a circle determining an arch-shaped curved surface in a cross section of the upper wall is set smaller than a diameter of a circle determining an arch-shaped curved surface in a cross section of the lower wall, and both circles do not overlap completely.
 7. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein the lower wall and the upper wall are partially joined in the space in the airtight hollow container.
 8. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein a plurality of separate empty chambers are formed by joining the lower wall and the upper wall in the space in the airtight hollow container.
 9. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein a plurality of separate empty chambers are formed by joining the lower wall and the upper wall in the space in the airtight hollow container, and two kinds of compositions are placed in the individual chambers such that at least two different luminescent colors are produced during chemical luminescence.
 10. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein a fluorescent material having a different wavelength from that of the luminescent color of a luminescent solution in the airtight hollow container is incorporated into the wall of the airtight hollow container.
 11. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein the surface of the upper wall is decorated by printing or attaching a sticker thereto.
 12. The glowing artificial nail according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein the airtight hollow container is formed linearly in the length direction. 